Infected blood scandal: Report blasts 'defensive' civil service spin
21 May 2024 Communications

Infected blood scandal: Report blasts 'defensive' civil service spin

Call for senior civil servants to face new statutory duties over advice to perm secs and ministers
by Jim Dunton
Perm sec-level job created to lead government comms as Simon Baugh departs
20 May Communications
Perm sec-level job created to lead government comms as Simon Baugh departs
Fact checker defends ex-perm sec over pension-reform claims
13 May Communications
Fact checker defends ex-perm sec over pension-reform claims
As the Freedom of Information Act turns 20, can it outwit the delete button?
03 Apr Communications
As the Freedom of Information Act turns 20, can it outwit the delete button?
Government full FoI responses fall below 40% for first time
03 May 2023 Communications
Government full FoI responses fall below 40% for first time
Treasury, Foreign Office and DLUHC each responded in full to less than a quarter of inquiries
DHSC perm sec rules out pay-dispute arbitration with junior doctors
20 Apr 2023 Communications
DHSC perm sec rules out pay-dispute arbitration with junior doctors
Chris Wormald tells MPs third-party mediation is “not something the government is pursuing”
Simon Case denies telling Boris Johnson Partygate gatherings complied with Covid rules
22 Mar 2023 Communications
Simon Case denies telling Boris Johnson Partygate gatherings complied with Covid rules
Ex-PM's PPS also "questioned whether it was realistic to argue that all guidance had been followed at all times"
TikTok banned on government devices in new security rules
16 Mar 2023 Communications
TikTok banned on government devices in new security rules
NCSC review has identified "risk around how sensitive government data is accessed and used by certain platforms"
Suella Braverman 'may have broken ministerial code' with attack on 'activist civil servants'
08 Mar 2023 Communications
Suella Braverman 'may have broken ministerial code' with attack on 'activist civil servants'
Home secretary lambasted for "cowardly" attack on Home Office staff over illegal migration bill
Government Counter Disinformation Unit ‘does not monitor individuals’, minister pledges
02 Mar 2023 Communications
Government Counter Disinformation Unit ‘does not monitor individuals’, minister pledges
Paul Scully responds to questions following revelations that Army brigade assessed social posts of UK citizens
Ex-cabinet minister probes authorisation for Army unit to monitor citizens’ social posts
23 Feb 2023 Communications
Ex-cabinet minister probes authorisation for Army unit to monitor citizens’ social posts
Former Brexit secretary David Davis’s question to MoD on the use of information ops brigade goes unanswered
HMRC home working ‘not to blame’ for self-assessment helpline delays
25 Jan 2023 Communications
HMRC home working ‘not to blame’ for self-assessment helpline delays
Perm sec blames unnecessary calls and last-minute rush to file tax returns for busy phone lines
Civil servant ‘sacked’ after calling on Simon Case to quit on phone-in show
24 Jan 2023 Communications
Civil servant ‘sacked’ after calling on Simon Case to quit on phone-in show
Former comms staffer says radio-show plea for officials to push back against Boris Johnson-era spin cost him his job
Starting the year with inclusivity: how civil servants can become disability allies
23 Jan 2023 Communications
Starting the year with inclusivity: how civil servants can become disability allies
GDS apprentice Samaira Uddin shares her thoughts on the importance of bringing one’s whole self to work, and how colleagues and managers can be true allies to civil servants with disabilities
Cabinet Office offers £61k for deputy civil service comms head
17 Jan 2023 Communications
Cabinet Office offers £61k for deputy civil service comms head
Communications directorate is “looking to enhance” its capability, including its advice to top officials
HMRC among most-impersonated agencies by cyber-scammers
09 Jan 2023 Communications
HMRC among most-impersonated agencies by cyber-scammers
Cyber intelligence unit reveals the government brands most often cited in attempted fraud and hacking
‘Deciding where to cut staff was hard’ – Simon Baugh on restructuring GCS and reacting to once-in-a-generation events
06 Jan 2023 Communications
‘Deciding where to cut staff was hard’ – Simon Baugh on restructuring GCS and reacting to once-in-a-generation events
The Government Communication Service chief exec is proud of how staff responded to Omicron and Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Scottish Government officials win right to disconnect out of hours
14 Dec 2022 Communications
Scottish Government officials win right to disconnect out of hours
Scotland's civil servants are UK's first workers to have a legal right not to be contacted out of hours, Prospect union says
HMRC phone lines closed over 'technical issue' – MPs demand answers
05 Dec 2022 Communications
HMRC phone lines closed over 'technical issue' – MPs demand answers
Suspension of helpline services a "serious concern", Treasury committee chair says
Former No.10 comms chief warned over risk of breaching anti-corruption rules
02 Dec 2022 Communications
Former No.10 comms chief warned over risk of breaching anti-corruption rules
Acoba says listings on speaking-agency websites could land Guto Harri in hot water
DHSC rapped for sharing 'misleading' graph on nurses' wage rise
30 Nov 2022 Communications
DHSC rapped for sharing 'misleading' graph on nurses' wage rise
Tweet shared after nurses' strike announced remains up despite warning it could harm public confidence
Ofgem apologises for slow response to MPs' letters amid energy crisis Exclusive
14 Oct 2022 Communications
Ofgem apologises for slow response to MPs' letters amid energy crisis
Regulator “working hard to fix” response time, while Passport Office, UKVI, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force fail to cope with deluge of correspondence
Wokery in the civil service: separating fact from fiction
29 Sep 2022 Communications
Wokery in the civil service: separating fact from fiction
We take a personal look at a divisive and highly politicised topic, to uncover the real issues which lie behind it
Team Truss’s top three themes already twisted into knots
28 Sep 2022 Communications
Team Truss’s top three themes already twisted into knots
The NHS, the energy crisis and the economy were would-be PM Truss's top priorities. But the Plan for Patients is underwhelming
Former Home Office DG rapped over returning to department as consultant
27 Sep 2022 Communications
Former Home Office DG rapped over returning to department as consultant
Ex-official breached business appointment rules by failing to seek anti-corruption watchdog's advice
Coffey memo riles DHSC and UKHSA staff
16 Sep 2022 Communications
Coffey memo riles DHSC and UKHSA staff
Style-guide tips channel Jacob Rees-Mogg after new health secretary's appointment
Public bodies told to scale back publishing following Queen’s death
09 Sep 2022 Communications
Public bodies told to scale back publishing following Queen’s death
Cabinet Office internal communications guidance says "vast majority” of social media and GOV.UK output should be suspended
DIT told to improve ‘unacceptable’ Freedom of Information delays
09 Sep 2022 Communications
DIT told to improve ‘unacceptable’ Freedom of Information delays
ICO also tells BEIS to improve disclosure practices as part of new willingness to act on poor performance